Hala Khereis was a 58-year-old Palestinian woman living in the al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. She had been a primary school teacher and was now retired. She had three daughters, two of whom were married, and a son.
In October 2023, the Israeli army dropped leaflets over the city, threatening to bomb it if people did not flee south. One of the daughters and her family fled to Rafah, in the south.
In November 2023, the army invaded northern Gaza by land. Panic gripped everyone, but Hala was calm. She read the Quran: "If we are fortunate enough to be part of this world, we will live; if not, we will be martyrs."
On November 12, after learning of a route secured by the International Red Cross, the family decided to leave along that route with twenty people from the neighborhood. Hala and her 5-year-old grandson Taim were in the lead, Taim carrying a white flag.
At the intersection of two main streets, some tanks signaled they were changing direction. Hala was too far ahead and didn't see them. One of the Israeli snipers took advantage of the situation to shoot her.
Hala fell, and Taim ran away in fear. There was no way to get Hala to a medical center; the snipers kept firing. She bled to death and was buried near her home. Taim disappeared; after much anguish, asking for him, they learned he was in Rafah.
Grandma Hala's story in one page: 006_Abuela_Hala_English.pdf
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